What causes the eyes to be too tired to open?

Under normal circumstances, difficulty opening the eyes accompanied by fatigue may be caused by lack of sleep, excessive eye use, visual fatigue, dry eye syndrome, hypothyroidism, or other conditions. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analysis is as follows:

1. Sleep deprivation: Long-term staying up late or poor sleep quality prevents the eyes from getting adequate rest, causing the ciliary muscles and surrounding ocular muscles to remain in a constant state of tension. Maintain regular sleep habits with 7–8 hours of sleep per night, avoid electronic devices one hour before bedtime, and promote sleep through foot soaking or listening to soft music. Avoid consuming coffee or strong tea before bed.

2. Excessive eye use: Prolonged focus on electronic screens or close-up reading causes continuous contraction of the ciliary muscle without relaxation, slowing ocular blood circulation. Take a break every 30 minutes of screen time to look into the distance for at least 5 minutes. Perform eye exercises twice daily, massage acupoints such as Jingming and Sibai, and maintain a distance of 30–50 cm between the eyes and the screen.

3. Visual fatigue: Chronic strain of the eye muscles leads to symptoms such as eye soreness and blurred vision, which worsen under excessively bright or dim lighting. Patients should use medications such as compound homatropine and vitamin B12 eye drops, naphazoline-pheniramine-methazolamide eye drops, or sodium hyaluronate eye drops as prescribed. Adjust indoor lighting to a soft, non-glaring level.

4. Dry eye syndrome: Insufficient tear production or unstable tear film results in inadequate lubrication and protection of the ocular surface, leading to dryness and fatigue. Use artificial tears such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose eye drops, polyethylene glycol eye drops, or carboxymethylcellulose sodium eye drops as directed by a physician. Use a humidifier indoors to maintain humidity levels between 40% and 60%.

5. Hypothyroidism: Insufficient thyroid hormone secretion slows metabolism, causing general fatigue along with eye tiredness and eyelid swelling. Patients should take medications such as levothyroxine sodium tablets, thyroid extract tablets, or levothyroxine sodium oral solution as prescribed, and have regular follow-up tests to adjust medication dosage accordingly.

In daily life, consume more foods rich in vitamin A and lutein, such as carrots, blueberries, and egg yolks. Wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect the eyes from direct exposure to bright light and reduce ocular irritation. Comprehensive eye care can help improve eye fatigue.